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5 Best Moments From Global Citizen Festival 2013

60,000 gathered in Central Park to rally around the cause of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 on Saturday, with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Elvis Costello, John Mayer, Kings of Leon and Janelle Monae all performing. Here were the best moments

Kings of Leon's Casual Goofiness In Their Kick-Ass Opening Set

Kings of Leon's Casual Goofiness In Their Kick-Ass Opening Set

Nashville rockers' Kings of Leon kicked off Global Citizen Festival with a tight, high-energy set. The two-year hiatus seems to have effectively re-energized the band. Instead of an exhausted, by-the-numbers set like their live show circa 2011, you could tell they actually enjoyed rocking out together. Frontman Caleb Followill jokingly apologized for his family members' "sloppiness" before they launched into "Beautiful War," a highlight from Mechanical Bull. And obviously, they did "Sex on Fire." Watch it below.

Bono Gets Booed

Bono Gets Booed

While introducing Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf—Africa's
first female president—Bono made a point about how the Dallas Cowboys' stadium
uses more power in one night than Liberia does in a day. All it took for the
audience of New Yorkers to erupt into boos was the mention of the Dallas
Cowboys, proving that although they might consider themselves Global Citizens, New Yorkers still have their hometown pride (and axe to grind against the
Cowboys).

Later in the night, Bono gave a spoken word introduction to Stevie Wonder's set. Watch it below.

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Alicia Keys' Flawless Performance

Alicia Keys' Flawless Performance

She had style, she had class and she kicked ass. In addition to out-dressing anyone else on stage that night, Alicia Keys delivered the most satisfying set at Global Citizen Fest, including early career highlights like "You Don't Know My Name" as well as recent hits like "New Day" and "Girl on Fire." And although the fest was globally-minded, Keys closed it out with "Empire State of Mind (Pt. II)," her uplifting hometown anthem. "I love you, New Yorkers, because you are motivated, driven and caring people," Keys said. Watch it below.

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Stevie Wonder Talks Gun Control

Stevie Wonder Talks Gun Control

Toward the end of his incredibly funky set, Stevie Wonder brought up gun control but somehow managed to be funny while making his political plea. "Can you believe they're letting blind people carry guns?" Wonder said, laughing. "I mean, c'mon. Let's keep it real." After leading the crowd in a chant of "ri-dic-u-lous," Wonder covered John Lennon's "Imagine," which he described as a classic from "a man we lost because of a gun." After wrapping his cover—which referenced Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"—Wonder added, "John Lennon, we're gonna do our best to make this world live as one."

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Surprise Guest Janelle Monae Joins Stevie Wonder on "Higher Ground"

Surprise Guest Janelle Monae Joins Stevie Wonder on "Higher Ground"

How do you make Stevie Wonder's immortal funk jam "Higher Ground" even cooler? Bring in R&B's most eclectic singer-songwriter Janelle Monae. The Electric Lady had already made a surprise appearance to sing "Smile"—the Charlie Chaplin-penned standard covered by everyone, ever—earlier that night, and returned to duet with Wonder on his Innervisions classic and "Sir Duke." It was fun, funky and uplifting, and the most memorable moment of the six-hour event.

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The holiday season is upon us and no one else is more excited than the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey. After kicking of her annual "All I Want For Christmas Is You" concert series at the Beacon Theatre the night before, Mimi continued spreading her holiday cheer and lit up the Empire State Building in celebration of their new holiday light show.